To a mom, being able to work at home seems like a win-win all around. She can be there to raise her children while still having the financial means to pay the bills. No more crazy mornings trying to get to work on time, worrying about having to take a day off to do something personal, or competing for promotions in the office. It’s the perfect way to gain control of your work-life balance! Or so it would seem. However, what often isn’t shared is the emotional shift you go through being a work at home mom.
Many women jump into this position looking only at the advantages and find themselves spiraling out of control after a few months of working from home. They become sad, stressed out, or simply burn out. It reduces their ability to parent their children effectively. Some even suffer from relationship problems.
This leads some women to fall into a deep depression while others start relying on substances like drugs and alcohol to cope. It takes a lot for them to recover including taking antidepressants, talking to a therapist, and even enrolling in an outpatient drug rehab near Ohio or whichever state they reside in.
For this reason, it is recommended that women first have a clear understanding of what’s involved in working from home so they can be physically and mentally prepared. Here is a look at how being a work at home mom can impact your emotional well-being.
No Social Interaction
You don’t realize how much you miss the conversation and banter of your co-workers until you’re home alone. At first, peace and quiet can be welcoming. Over time, however, you start to get a bit lonely. Outside of your clients through emails or video chats, there’s no adult conversation. This can cause you to feel isolated and even sad which overtime can turn into depression.
Blurred Lines
You’d think that being able to be home while working would allow you to get more done. However, most work at home mothers says that’s simply not the case. There’s often so much to do that you never really get anything done. You’re trying to work on a project but you’re constantly running back and forth doing laundry or cooking dinner. You either burn the meal, mess up a load in the washer, or miss your deadline because your mind cannot focus on one thing. This can become very overwhelming and even depressing as you feel like you’re not accomplishing anything.
Cabin Fever
Not only do you miss out on socializing with adults being a work at home can give you a bad case of cabin fever. Your office is at home so, outside of taking the kids to school and running a few errands, you have no reason to leave the house. Staying in the house can get lonely and is also bad for your mental and physical health. The limited exposure to the sun reduces your vitamin D levels which can weaken your bones and dampen your mood.
Reduced Self-Care
The idea of working at home in your yoga pants and tank top seems great – at first. However, what often happens is moms stop self-care practices altogether. What’s the point in putting on makeup and getting all dressed up to take the kids to school or run to the grocery store? Suddenly ponytails, leggings, and oversized shirts become your personal style. Then, you look in the mirror and wonder where your good looks went. This can cause low self-confidence.
No More Stable Paychecks
As most women who work at home are operating their own home-based businesses the added financial stress kicks in. You no longer have the security of a regular paycheck. In order to make sure that you can provide for your family, you have to push your business. This is especially true for single moms. A day you don’t generate income is a day you might not be able to get the things your family needs.
As you can see from above, being a work at home mom is not for the faint of heart. It requires extensive preparation and consideration. The good news, however, is that many women have learned systems that have helped them to overcome each of the above-mentioned emotional factors. From linking up with friends for lunch and setting a strict schedule to finding time to do things they enjoy and developing several streams of income, they have learned how to make their career choice work for them and their families.
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